Kalen DeBoer head coach of Alabama, is gone.

Kalen DeBoer was very transparent about his decisions on the starting lineup and depth chart before the commencement of Alabama’s inaugural season.

Alabama hasn’t changed, even if a new age has dawned. Now-retired Nick Saban left behind a great roster, which DeBoer probably preserved longer than he thought.

That is what happens when a talented head coach advances to the national championship game.

“Yeah, that’s a fairly reasonable question,” DeBoer said in the Ryen Russillo podcast. “I think you realize that we’ll be here for you at all times. I think calling anything a “blank slate” could be a little over the top. Despite these preconceived ideas and presumptions, I think we do have an open mind. Despite my belief that we’ve been able to just click and assemble the roster, you know, you hear things, and when you speak with individuals, even the players themselves, you get a sense of perhaps what their previous roles were, what they’re searching for, or perhaps some of the areas where men were a bit unhappy.

Yes, there are a few noticeable pauses scattered throughout. In particular, there are gaps where some younger players have to fill in roles and take advantage of opportunities that they might not have had in many other programs, and there are certain older guys whose positions on the depth chart are very evident and clear from their experiences.

Under DeBoer, Alabama still has the second-best class overall in the Class of 2024. The retention percentage is still high, even if a large number of them originally signed with Saban.

34 players eventually departed the transfer site after ten Alabama athletes entered. Even yet, the Crimson Tide lost two five-star ratings but gained three four-star ones.

There are veterans employed at DeBoer in addition to a few recent hires and veterans from other institutions.